Methods and devices for managing a network

Abstract

The present invention proposes a method of managing a network comprising a set of devices for transmitting a traffic stream using network resources. Each device of the set of devices is individually associated with an expiration time. The expiration time defines a maximum interval of sending a message by a given device among the set of devices for indicating that the given device is connected with the network. The method comprises a step of determining, based on the expiration times of said set of devices, a transmission lease time defining duration of using said network resources.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of managing a network, wherein the network comprises a set of devices for transmitting a traffic stream between a source device and a sink device of said set of devices using network resources, each device of said set of devices being individually associated with an expiration time, said expiration time defining, for a respective given device, a maximum time interval of sending a message by the given device among said set of devices, the message for indicating said given device is connected with said network, said method comprising:
 determining, based on the expiration times of all devices of said set of devices in a transmission path of the traffic stream between the source device and the sink device, a transmission lease time; and 
 wherein the determined transmission lease time defines a time duration of using said network resources for transmitting the traffic stream between the source device and the sink device in the transmission path; and, 
 responsive to (i) any device of the set of devices in the transmission path not working properly by not sending a respective message by a corresponding expiration time indicating that said given device is connected with said network, and (ii) a control device of the set of devices failing to update the determined transmission lease time during use of said network resources for transmitting the traffic stream in the transmission path, automatically releasing said network resources occupied by the traffic stream between the source device and the sink device after the determined transmission lease time has expired, wherein said transmission lease time is determined according to one selected from the group consisting of:
 a minimum value among the expiration times of all devices of said set of devices in the transmission path of the traffic stream; 
 an average value of the expiration times of all devices of said set of devices in the transmission path of the traffic stream; and 
 an intermediate value among the expiration times of all devices of said set of devices in the transmission path of the traffic stream. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A manager device of managing a network, wherein the network comprises a set of devices for transmitting a traffic stream between a source device and a sink device of said set of devices using network resources, each device of said set of devices being individually associated with an expiration time, said expiration time defining, for a respective given device, a maximum time interval of sending a message by the given device among said set of devices, the message for indicating said given device is connected with said network, said manager device comprising:
 a unit for determining, based on the expiration times of all devices of said set of devices in a transmission path of the traffic stream between the source device and sink device, a transmission lease time; and 
 wherein the determined transmission lease time as defines a time duration of using said network resources for transmitting the traffic stream between the source device and the sink device in the transmission path; and, 
 a unit, responsive to (i) any device of the set of devices in the transmission path not working properly by not sending a respective message by a corresponding expiration time indicating that said given device is connected to the network, and (ii) a control device of the set of devices failing to update the determined transmission lease time during use of said network resources for transmitting the traffic stream in the transmission path, for automatically releasing said network resources occupied by the traffic stream between the source device and the sink device are automatically released after the determined transmission lease time has expired, wherein said transmission lease time is determined according to one selected from the group consisting of:
 a minimum value among the expiration times of all devices of said set of devices in the transmission path of the traffic stream; 
 an average value of the expiration times of all devices of said set of devices in the transmission path of the traffic stream; and 
 an intermediate value among the expiration times of all devices of said set of devices in the transmission path of the traffic stream.